>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> DRIVING IN AND ROLLING UP
SLEEVES.
VACCINE SURGES INTO THE STATE.
IT'S A SHOT IN THE ARM FOR
TEACHERS SHOWN HERE IN DANE
COUNTY AND FOR THE MORALE OF
RESIDENTS AROUND THE STATE.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC, THE IN
FLUSKS OF INFLUX
OF THE GJ ESTABLISHES WISCONSIN
AS 15TH IN THE NATION FOR
VACCINATIONS GIVEN FIRST N.
WASHINGTON, RELIEF OF A
DIFFERENT KIND, A $1.9 TRILLION
COVID STIMULUS BILL IS PASSED
AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT
JOE BIDEN.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WILL
KENNEALLY EXPLAINS WHAT KIND OF
STIMULUS WISCONSIN CAN EXPECT
FROM THE COVID RELIEF BILL.
A WARNING A COVID-19 VARIANTS
FROM DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM.
AND THE LATEST ON THE SAFE
VACCINATION EFFORT WITH INTERIM
SECRETARY OF HEALTH SERVICES,
KAREN TIMBERLAKE.
AND LATER, WHAT THE COVID
STIMULUS BILL MEANS FOR
WISCONSIN FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH
12.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED
HIS FIRST MAJOR PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THURSDAY, A $1.9
TRILLION PANDEMIC AID PACKAGE
THAT PROMISES TO SEND $1400
CHECKS TO SOME AMERICANS AS
EARLY AS THIS MONTH.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER WILL
KENNEALLY BREAKS DOWN WHAT'S IN
THE MASSIVE BILL AND WHAT IT
MEANS FOR WISCONSIN.
>> THIS IS THE THIRD MAJOR
FEDERAL PACKAGE RELATED TO THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AFTER THE CARES ACT WAS PASSED
LAST MARCH AND A SMALLER
SUPPLEMENT IN DECEMBER.
>> TODAY I SIGNED INTO LAW THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, A HISTORIC
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
DELIVERS IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
>> THE NEW BILL CONTAINS SOME OF
THE PROVISIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS
BILLS, INCLUDING A $300
SUPPLEMENT FOR STATE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
THE SUPPLEMENT WAS EXTENDED IN
DECEMBER, BUT WAS SET TO EXPIRE
THIS WEEKEND.
THE EXTRA $300 WILL NOW RUN
THROUGH THIS SEPTEMBER.
>> I'M USING EVERY POWER I HAVE
AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES TO PUT US ON A WAR
FOOTING TO GET THE JOB DONE.
>> FOR WISCONSIN, THE NEW RELIEF
BILL SENDS ROUGHLY $3.2 BILLION
IN DIRECT FUNDS TO THE BADGER
STATE.
LAST YEAR, GOVERNOR EVERS USED
SOME OF THE CARE ACTS MONEY FOR
EQUIPMENT FOR FRONT LIEN WORKERS
AND SET UP GRANTS TO HELP
INDUSTRIES AFFECTED BY THE
PANDEMIC, LIKE LODGING AND
ENTERTAINMENT.
WISCONSIN COUNTIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES WILL GET ROUGHLY
$2.5 BILLION IN AID.
MILWAUKEE WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN
$4 MILLION AND MADISON, RACINE
AND GREEN BAY WILL RECEIVE TENS
OF MILLIONS.
FOR INDIVIDUAL WISCONSINITES,
SOME WILL RECEIVE A $1400
STIMULUS CHECK.
THE FULL AMOUNT WILL GO TO
ADULTS MAKING LESS THAN $75,000
PER YEAR OR COUPLES MAKING LESS
THAN $150,000.
PARENTS WILL RECEIVE $3,000 PER
CHILD, WITH AN EXTRA $600 FOR
CHILDREN UNDER SIX.
AS SCHOOLS BEGIN TO OPEN UP, THE
FEDERAL PACKAGE INCLUDES $125
BILLION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NATIONWIDE TO HELP FUND
RENOVATION, REDUCE CLASS SIZES
AND BIEF PPE.
ALSO MONEY TO HELP HOSPITALS AND
THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR.
IT WILL PUT TOWARD COVID-19
MITIGATION AND FOR DEBT
FORGIVENESS FOR MINORITY
FARMERS, WHICH THE USDA
ESTIMATED IN 2017 MAKE UP 1400
OF WISCONSIN'S MORE THAN 100,000
FOOD PRODUCERS.
FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M WILL
KENNEALLY.
>> THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WAS
PASSED OUT WK WITHOUT REPUBLICAN
SUPPORT.
DEMOCRATIC U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
RON KIND SAID COVID-19 HAS
CAUSED AN ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY LIKE WE'VE
NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND WE MUST
MEET THIS MOMENTMENT THIS
PACKAGE WILL PROVIDE RELAW
ENFORCEMENT TO FAMILIES, EXPAND
VACCINES, HELP SCHOOLS OPEN AND
GET OUR ECONOMY FIRING ON OUR
CYLINDERS.
REPUBLICAN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
MIKE GALLAGHER SAID THE BILL IS
FLAWED.
WE ALL WANT TO ENSURE HOSPITALS
RECEIVE THE FUNDING THEY NEED TO
DISTRIBUTE VACCINES.
SCHOOLS CAN REOPEN AND THAT
INDIVIDUALS HARDEST HIT CAN GET
BY.
BUT INSTEAD OF WORKING ACROSS
THE AISLE, PRESIDENT BIDEN
PUSHED FOR THE LONG PLAN AND THE
WRONG TIME FOR THE WRONG REASON.
SO MANY FOR UNITY.
GOVERNOR EVERS EXPECTS TO ACT
QUICKLY TO DISTRIBUTE THE MORE
THAN $3 BILLION FEDERAL COMING
TO WISCONSIN SAYING HE WANTS TO
GET THE MONEY OUT THE DOOR AS
FAST AS POSSIBLE.
>> TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT
ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE
PANDEMIC AND THAT'S GETTING IT
OUT TO SMALL BUSINESSES, PEOPLE
IN THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY,
TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND OBVIOUSLY
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH SYSTEM IS WORKING
APPROPRIATELY.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET IT OUT THE
DOOR AND GET IT OUT THE DOOR,
FRANKLY, IN THE SAME WAY WE HAVE
IN THE PAST.
THERE'S MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN THAT HAVE
NEEDS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE MEET THOSE NEEDS.
AND SO THERE WILL BE NO SHORTAGE
OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO HELP
OUT THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN
AFTER THAT MONEY COMES IN THE
DOOR.
OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO
WAIT FOR THE REGULATIONS AND I
KNOW THAT THAT WILL TAKE A
LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
BUT ONCE WE GET IT, WE'LL BE IN
A POSITION TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
OF WISCONSIN, ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE MOST IN
THIS PANDEMIC.
>> IT HAS BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DECLARED THE
FIRST PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
THIS WEEK, HE RECOGNIZED THE
TOLL AND TRAGEDY OF LOSING MORE
THAN 6500 PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN TO
THE OUTBREAK.
AND HE THANKED THE WORK OF SO
MANY ON THE FRONTLINES.
EVERS SAID VACCINES PROVIDE A
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
MANY ARE READY TO SHED SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS AND GATHER IN
GROUPS.
ALONG WITH WARM WINDS COMING IN,
THERE IS CAUTION BECAUSE
COVID-19 VARIANTS ARE NOW
CIRCULATING ACROSS THE U.S. AND
IN WISCONSIN.
LATEST NUMBERS SHOW 33 CASES OF
THE U.K. VARIANT IN THE STATE,
JUST AT THE TOP WHEN FOLKS ARE
GETTING TIRED OF ALL THE
RESTRICTIONS.
WE TURN NOW TO UNIVERSITY OF
MINNESOTA EPIDEMIOLOGIST
DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, A
NATIONAL EXPERT ON INFECTIOUS
DISEASE WHO WAS TAPPED EARLY BY
PRESIDENT BIDEN TO HELP GUIDE
THE COVID-19 RESPONSE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO YOU ARE THE SOUNDING THE
ALARM ON THESE COVID VARIANTS
NOW CIRCUMSTANCE LAIGHT.
WHY?
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?
>> WELL, WE REALLY LIVE IN A
TALE OF TWO CITIES.
THE TALE YOU HEARD FROM GOVERNOR
EVERS IS VERY REAL.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
VACCINES THAT ARE COMING.
WE ARE AT A RELATIVELY LOW POINT
IN THE NUMBER OF CASES.
BUT THE SECOND TALE OF THE
SECOND CITY IS REALLY ABOUT ONE
OF BEING IN THE EYE OF A
HURRICANE, WHERE WE'VE GONE
THROUGH THAT FRONT WALL, WHICH
HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC AND
TRAUMATIC YEAR.
AND EVERYTHING LOOKS KIND OF
BLUE SKIES RIGHT NOW, GENTLE
BREEZES.
BUT THE BACK WALL IS COMING.
AND THAT IS THIS VARIANT, THE
MUTATED
MUTATED VIRUSES.
B117 IS ABOUT 40% TO 60% MORE
INFECTIOUS, CAUSING MORE SEVERE
DISEASE.
WE'RE SEEING THE RAPID INCREASE
IN THIS VIRUS' PRESENCE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL
CHALLENGE.
ENGLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, STILL IS
IN LOCKDOWN RELATIVE TO THIS
VIRUS SINCE CHRISTMAS.
THEY JUST OPENED SCHOOLS FOR THE
FIRST TIME THIS WEEK, BUT MOST
BUSINESSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS,
LIVE VENUES ARE ALL SHUT DOWN.
THIS IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT
MUCH OF EUROPE.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE
VACCINE HERE, IT'S COMING EVEN
MORE EVERY DAY, THERE'S STILL
SUCH A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE
VACCINATED OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
HAD PREVIOUS INFECTION THAT
ANYWHERE FROM 55% TO 60% OF OUR
POPULATIONS IN THE STATES OF THE
UPPER MIDWEST ARE STILL
VULNERABLE TO THIS VIRUS.
AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT
WEEKS WE'RE GOING TO SEE B117
TAKING OFF.
IN MINNESOTA WE'RE SEEING
EXTENSIVE OUTBREAKS BEGINNING TO
DEVELOP.
>> MEANWHILE THE CIRCULATION OF
THESE NEWER STRAINS COMES AT THE
SAME TIME THAT STATES ARE
OPENING UP AGAIN.
WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION ABOUT
THOSE TWO THINGS HAPPENING AT
THE SAME TIME?
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A
PERFECT STORM.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING BUT
TURNING OVER OUR CREDIT CARDS TO
THIS VIRUS.
WE'RE GIVING IT EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRANSMITTED.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SPRING BREAK
COMING UP IN FLORIDA WHICH
APPEARS TO BE THE STATE WITH THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF VIRUS THERE IN
TERMS OF THE B117.
WE'RE SEEING ALL THESE OTHER
EVENTS TAKING PLACE, OPENING UP
RESTAURANTS, BARS, ET CETERA.
AND OPENING UP SCHOOLS.
I'VE BEEN A VERY STRONG
PROPONENT FOR OPENING K-8
BECAUSE WE'VE HAD DATA SHOWING A
VERY LOW RISK THERE.
THAT'S ALL DIFFERENT WITH B117.
IN EUROPE THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN
SCHOOLS FOR MONTHS JUST TO TRY
TO CONTROL THE TRANSMISSION OF
THIS VIRUS.
SO I KNOW THE PUBLIC DOESN'T
WANT TO HEAR THIS.
IT'S HORRIBLE.
WE'RE ALL AT THE ENDS OF OUR
ROPE WITH REGARD TO THIS
PANDEMIC.
BUT THIS IS I THINK THE LAST BIG
HURDLE TO GET OVER, AT LEAST IN
TERMS OF THE SHORT TERM, WITH
THE VACCINE GOING TO HAVE BEEN
HERE IN MAY, THIS SURGE LASTING
12, 14 WEEKS.
I DON'T KNOW.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE HERE FOR A
WHILE AND WE'VE GOT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> WELL, ONE ARTICLE WRITTEN
ABOUT YOUR PREDICTIONS CALLS YOU
DR. DOOM.
ARE YOU BEING UNNECESSARILY
PESSIMISTIC?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
CALLED THAT ALL MY CREEMPLET LET CAREER.
IF YOU LOOK AT MY TRACK RECORD
ON THIS PANDEMIC I'VE CALLED IT
ALL ALONG.
A YEAR AGO THIS PAST TUESDAY, I
WAS ON THE JOE ROGAN PODCAST AND
I SAID I COULD SEE IN THE NEXT
YEAR WELL OVER 4800 DEATHS.
I WAS CALLED DR. DOOM AT THAT
POINT.
YOU KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS
RIGHT NOW IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE'RE AT 526,000 DEATHS.
SO I WILL JUST STICK WITH MY
RECORD AND SAY THAT GO TAKE A
LOOK AND THEN CAN YOU MAKE YOUR
OWN DECISION.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOOD
TO HAVE TO BRING BAD NEWS, BUT
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING THE
TRUTH TO THE PEOPLE.
>> AS TO VACCINES, YOU'VE ALSO
REPORTED THAT YOU ARE DELAYING
YOUR OWN SECOND DOSE.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?
AND SHOULD WE BE DOING THAT AS A
MATTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY?
>> WELL, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE
DOING IT AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC
HEALTH POLICY AND I'M NOT ALONE.
THE COUNTRIES OF ENGLAND, UNITED
KINGDOM AND CANADA HAVE BOTH
DONE THAT RIGHT NOW.
BASED ON THE DATA, WE CAN SHOW
THAT WITH THE TWO FIRST VACCINES
LICENSED, THE TWO-DOSE VACCINES,
THAT YOU GET VERY GOOD
PROTECTION AFTER THE FIRST DOSE.
WE STILL WANT PEOPLE TO GET THE
SECOND DOSE, BUT WE'D LIKE TO
DLAIF THAT DELAY
THAT UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THE
SURGE.
THERE ARE 20 PLUS MILLION
RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTRY OVER
65 WHO HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCESS
TO THE VACCINE.
THIS IS WHERE THE SEVERE VACCINE
OCCURS, 80% OF THE DEATHS.
MOST OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS,
MUCH OF THE SERIOUS ILLNESS.
AS WE GO INTO THIS SURGE, THE
MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ONE DOSE IN
THEIR ARM WOULD MEAN THAT MANY
FEWER PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO GET
SEVERE, DISEASE, HOSPITALIZATION
OR DIE.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT MY DOSE I
WOULD HAVE GOTTEN EARLIER, WHICH
I WILL GET EVENTUALLY, MAY GO
INTO THE ARM OF SOME GRANDPA OR
GRANDMA AND SAVE THEM TO BE
AROUND WITH THEIR GRANDKIDS
OFORT COURSE OF THE NEXT MONTHS
AHEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR INFORMATION, DR. MICHAEL
OSTERHOLM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RACING AGAINST TIME TO
OUTPACE THE VIRUS, WISCONSIN IS
OPENING UP WHO CAN GET THE
VACCINE STARTING AT THE END OF
THIS MONTH AND THIS WEEK SAID
THAT BY MAY EVERYONE WILL BE
ABLE TO BE VACCINATED.
BY MARCH 29 PEOPLE WITH
UNDERLYING CONDITIONS WILL BE
ELIGIBLE, WITH ALL ADULTS OVER
THE AGE OF 16 ABLE TO GET THE
VACCINE JUST A MONTH LATER.
VERY PROMISING NEWS.
WE CHECK IN WITH INTERIM
SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES KAREN
TIMBERLAKE.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
>> OPENING UP THE ELIGIBILITY
AND MAKING WAY FOR ALL ADULTS TO
BE VACCINATED STARTING IN
MAY SUGGESTS THAT WISCONSIN WILL
SEE A MAJOR UPTICK IN SUPPLY.
WHAT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TELLING THE STATE ABOUT SUPPLY
COMING IN AND WHEN?
>> WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF WEEKS
OF JUST REALLY GOOD NEWS ON THE
VACCINE SUPPLY FRONT.
SO IF WE THINK BACK TO JUST
MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS AGO, WE
WERE GETTING ABOUT 70,000 FIRST
DOSES INTO THE STATE EVERY WEEK.
BY NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE AT ABOUT
179,000 FIRST DOSES.
SO IT'S TWO AND A HALF TIMES
INCREASE FROM WHERE WE WERE.
BY EEFERL EARLY APRIL WE'RE EXPECTING
225,000.
BY MAY 250,000.
SO THE NEWS HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT
GOOD.
>> AS TO THE VACCINE BEING
EXPANDED, IT INCLUDES PEOPLE
WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS LIKE
CANCER OR HEART DISEASE.
HOW MANY ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IS
THAT IF THE QUEUE FOR THE
VACCINE?
>> ABOUT ANOTHER TWO MILLION
WISCONSINITES WHO WILL BE IN
THAT ELIGIBILITY GROUP AND
THAT'S BECAUSE BETWEEN THE
RESEARCH FROM THE CDC AND
ELSEWHERE AND CERTAINLY THE
REVIEW BY OUR OWN STATE MEDICAL
ADVISERS IT'S A FAIRLY LONG LIST
OF UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS
THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WITH THOSE
CONDITIONS, MAKE SURE THEY
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL BE
ELIGIBLE AS OF THE VERY END OF
MARCH TO GET IN LINE, AS YOU
SAY, AND GET THAT VACCINE.
>> ONE OF THOSE INCLUDES BEING
SIMPLY OVERWEIGHT.
WILL PEOPLE HAVE TO VERIFY THEIR
CONDITIONS?
>> OUR EXPECTATION OF OUR
VACCINATORS IS THAT THEY WILL
NOT REQUIRE ANY PARTICULAR
VERIFICATION.
WE DO ASK PEOPLE TO SIGN AN
ATTESTATION FORM THAT THEY ARE
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.
FOR THESE UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITIONS, OUR HEALTH CARE
PARTNERS, OUR HOSPITALS, OUR
CLINICS, OUR COMMUNITY CLINICS,
OUR PHARMACIES, THEY'RE WELL
AWARE OF THEIR PATIENT
POPULATIONS AND WE KNOW THEY
WILL DO A GREAT JOB OF OUTREACH.
>> YOU'VE ADDED A NEW CATEGORY
OF PEOPLE TO THE ELIGIBILITY
LIST AND THAT IS RESTAURANT
WORKERS.
WHEN ARE THEY ELIGIBLE?
>> THEY'RE ELIGIBLE STARTING
RIGHT NOW.
SO IN THE CURRENT GROUPS OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, WE
ADDED PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN
OUR FOOD SUPPLY, SO GROCERY
WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING
ALL ALONG THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN.
>> WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THE STATE
TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTIONMENT
WHAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR ARE WUN TO UNDERSTAND IS
THAT WE HAVE THREE EXCELLENT
VACCINES THAT ARE SAFE, THEY ARE
INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERY
PERSON WHO IS ELIGIBLE TODAY TO
SEEK OUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A
VACCINE.
AS PEOPLE BECOME ELIGIBLE DOWN
THE ROAD, WE NEED EVERYBODY
STEPPING UP TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES AND PROTECT ALL OF
US.
>> SO WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR
PEOPLE TO SIGN UP TO GET THE
VACCINE?
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLACES
THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO ACCESS
VACCINES.
THE FIRST PLACE TO START IS
ALWAYS GOING TO BE WITH YOUR
DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
IN ADDITION, IT'S REALLY A GOOD
IDEA AUTO CHECK WITH LOCAL
PHARMACIES INCLUDING WALGREENS
AND PICK AND SAIF SAVE PHARMACIES AND
IN ADDITION WE HAVE A TOLL FREE
NUMBER PEOPLE CAN CALL FIND OUT
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE
THEY CAN GET THE VACCINE AND WE
HAVE A MAP ON OUR WEBSITE OF ALL
THE SITES ACROSS THE STATE WHERE
THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.
>> AND IN FACT THERE ARE MORE
AND MORE OF THESE MASS
VACCINATION SITES BEING STOOD UP
IN WISCONSIN AS WELL.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
WE HAVE SOME COMMUNITY SITES
THAT ARE NOW OPEN IN ROCK
COUNTY, ONE THAT WE JUST
ANNOUNCED THAT'S GOING TO OPEN
IN RACINE COUNTY IN JUST ANOTHER
WEESK OR SO, A SITE THAT JUST
OPENED IN LA CROSSE AND THERE
WILL BE MORE TO COME.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT
THE VARIANTS THAT ARE
CIRCULATING NOW IN WISCONSIN?
>> WE'RE WATCHING THAT VERY
CLOSELY.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 33 KNOWN
CASES OF THE -- WHAT'S KNOWN AT
U.K. VARIANT, THE MOST COMMON
ONE PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT.
WE STILL HAVE ONE CASE OF THE
SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT.
WE KNOW THESE VARIANTS ARE MORE
CONTAGIOUS.
THEY SPREAD QUICKLY.
THAT IS WHY BETWEEN GETTING
EVERYONE VAKS VACCINATED AND CONTINUE
TO GO WEAR MASKS, WATCH YOUR
DISTANCE, WASH YOUR HANDS, ALL
OF THAT WILL HELP US.
>> HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE FEDERAL
COVID RELIEF MONEY TO HELP
WISCONSIN'S HEALTH EFFORT IN ALL
OF THIS?
>> THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WILL
HELP US CONTINUE OUR RESPONSE TO
THE CORONAVIRUS THROUGH TESTING
AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT AND VACCINATION.
BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO HELP US
INVEST IN RECOVERY FOR PEOPLE
WHO HAVE STRUGGLED TO PAY RENT,
FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO FIND
CHILD CARE.
THERE ARE TREMENDOUS INVESTMENTS
COMING OUR WAY.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
KAREN TIMBERLAKE, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> NOW A DEEPER DIVE ON THE
COVID RELIEF BILL.
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
PROVISIONS COMES IN THE FORM OF
BOLSTERING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT
WHICH COULD REDUCE CHILD POVERTY
IN THE UNITED STATES BY UP TO
50%.
MARISA WOJCIK HAS MORE ON THIS.
>> THE HISTORIC $1.9 TRILLION
COVID-19 RELIEF BILL DUBD DUBBED THE
AMERICAN REST RESCUE PLAN MAY RESCUE
FAMILIES WITH THE TAX CREDIT.
FAMILIES WILL GET UP TO $3600
FOR EVERY CHILD UNDER SIX.
FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH ONE PARENT
EARNING LESS THAN $75,000 OR
COUPLES EARNING LESS THAN
$150,000, TARGETING MANY MIDDLE
AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A
BROAD-BASED BENEFIT THAT HELPS
MOST CHILDREN IN WISCONSIN.
SO EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SEE A
LIFT FROM THIS.
IT WILL BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
TO FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOMES WHO
ARE STRUGGLINGLE TO MAKE ENDS
MEET.
>> WE KNOW THAT WOMEN IN
PARTICULAR WHO HAVE BEEN HURT
BECAUSE OF LACK OF CHILD CARE,
LOW-WAGE SERVICE JOBS, WHICH ARE
PARTICULARLY AFFECT MINORITIES.
>> WOMEN LIKE TINESHIA CAMPBELL.
>> MY NAME IS TINESHIA CAMPBELL.
I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL KIDS, 12
AND 10, BOY AND GIRL.
>> AT THAT NISHA AND HER
CHILDREN LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING
IN MADISON AND SHE WORKS AT A
GAS STATION.
THINGS GOT TOUGH WHEN THE
PANDEMIC HIT.
>> IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS REAL
STRESSFUL BECAUSE HOURS WERE CUT
SO MY PAY WAS CUT.
BUT THE BILLS DON'T GET CUT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
THE KIDS STILL HAVE TO EAT.
YEAH.
SO IT WAS STRESSFUL IN THE
BEGINNING.
>> IT'S HARD TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
WE SEE THE LINES AT THE FOOD
BANKS AND WE SEE THE FOODSHARE
WAS UP 22%.
SO THOSE PARTICULAR FAMILIES
WERE HURTING THEN ARE MOST
LIKELY TO BE WORKING NOW.
>> SHE MADE IT WORK WITH HELP
FROM A FOOD PANTRY AND TEMPORARY
INCREASE TO FOODSHARE BENEFITS.
BUT THE WAY THE NEW CHILD TAX
CARE IS STRUCTURED WOULD MAKE A
BIG DIFFERENCE, ENSURING SHE
RECEIVES THE FULL REFUND AND
DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT BENEFITS
COUNT AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
>> IF YOU EARN AN EXTRA DOLLAR
RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE LIVING IN
PUBLIC HOUSING OR RECEIVING SNAP
BENEFITS, THEY'RE GOING TO
REDUCE YOUR SNAP BENEFITS,
THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE
RENT YOU PAY.
THE CHILD TAX CREDIT DOESN'T
WORK THAT WAY.
THERE'S NO CLAWBACK.
>> AND IT WON'T BE A LUMP SUM
COME TAX SEASON.
STARTING IN JULY MONTHLY
PAYMENTS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED
DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES.
>> OH, IT WOULD BE AMAZING.
BILLS WOULD BE ON TIME.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
LIKE AM I GOING TO PAY FOR THE
KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL
WITH THE INTERNET OR SHOULD I
WORRY ABOUT THE FOOD?
LIKE SO YOU -- THAT WOULD
DEFINITELY HELP A LOT.
>> EXPERTS SAY THE EXPANDED
CHILD TAX CREDIT ALONG WITH
OTHER MEASURES IN THE STIMULUS
PACKAGE COULD ALLEVIATE CHILD
POVERTY 40% TO 50%.
HOWEVER, THE FUNDING IS
TEMPORARY.
>> MOST OF THE OTHER PARTS OF
THE COVID RELIEF BILL ARE
TEMPORARY.
THE CHILD TAX CREDIT PART IS ONE
YEAR.
AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO ASK
OURSELVES WHEN THIS IS DONE IF
IT HAD THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT
THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING.
>> HAVING EXPERIENCED
HOMELESSNESS, SHE HOPES TO BE
ABLE TO EVENTUALLY SAVE FOR HER
CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
>> I JUST THINK IT'S AMAZING
THAT YOU CAN GIVE YOUR KIDS THAT
LEG UP AND LIKE ESPECIALLY NOW,
YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GET THE MONEY
WHEN THEY'RE 18, 21, 25.
THEY CAN USE IT FOR CLEFNLG, COLLEGE, FOR
BUSINESS, FOR NECESSITIES AND
DON'T HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE FOR
HELP.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK IN MADISON.
>> IN A WEEK THAT SAW THE START
OF JURY SELECTION IN THE TRIAL
OF A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER
CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, PBS
WISCONSIN BAY DEBUTED "WHY RACE
MATTERS."
HERE'S ANGELA FITZGERALD WITH
EAKS R EXCERPT FROM THE FIRST
EPISODE.
>> AFTER THE DYGHT OF GEORGE
FLOYD IN 2020 AND MEDIA
ATTENTION AROUND RACIAL JUSTICE,
I FELT A RESPONSIBILITY TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THESE ISSUES
IN WISCONSIN.
CERTAIN SPACES IN WISCONSIN ARE
OFTEN CREDITED AS SOME OF THE
MOST LIVABLE CITIES.
BUT FOR WHOM EXACTLY?
A 2019 REPORT FROM THE CENTER ON
WISCONSIN STRATEGY SHOWED THAT
WISCONSIN RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM
NATIONALLY ON A NUMBER OF RACIAL
DISPARITIES, INCLUDING WORST FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT.
SECOND WORST FOR OUT OF SCHOOL
SUSPENSION.
THIRD WORST FOR VOTER
PARTICIPATION.
AND FOURTH WORST FOR INFANT
MORTALITY.
DURING THIS SEASON, WE'LL TALK
WITH BLACK PEOPLE LIVING IN
WISCONSIN AND THE ISSUES
IMPORTANT TO THEM, LIKE THE
SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE AND
THE WHITE-CENTERED EDUCATION.
>> WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE A HUMAN,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT
SLAVERY OR OPPRESSION.
AND IT'S SIMILAR TO TODAY.
WHEN WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRULY
WORTH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT
THE EDUCATION PIECE BECAME
CRITICAL.
>> CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND THE FEAR
BEHIND CHANGE.
>> TO EXPECT ME TO FEEL LIKE I'M
LOVED IN THIS SOCIETY, IN THIS
COUNTRY IS RIDICULOUS.
TO TRY TO FIX A SYSTEM THAT
LITERALLY WAS STARTED BY
STEALING LAND AND STEALING
PEOPLE IS A RIDICULOUS IDEA TO
EVER THINK THAT LIKE THIS COULD
BE A JUST SYSTEM.
>> BLACK MENTAL HEALTH AND THE
TRAUMA SUR ROWRNDING THE IMAGES
OF BLACK DEATH.
>> WE'VE HEARD COUNTLESS BLACK
MEN SAY I CAN'T BREEFGHT.
I ALWAYS EXPLAIN WITH COVID AND
ALL OF THE RACIAL UNREST, WE
CAN'T BREATHE AS A COMMUNITY.
>> BLACK FARMING AND LAND
OWNERSHIP EXPWHRVMENT IT'S SO
HARD TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT
WHAT I WAS DOING WAS THE RIGHT
THING BECAUSE IT WAS SLAVERY.
YOU KNOW, THE HARD WORK, YOU
KNOW, WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU
KNOW, THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THERE
WAS A PAY-OUT FOR THAT HARD
WORK.
>> THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN
WISCONSIN NEEDS TO BE TALKED
ABOUT.
OUR STORIES NEED TO BE HEARD.
>> WHY RACE MATTERS IS A NEW PBS
WISCONSIN DIGITAL SERIES HOSTED
BY ANGELA FITZGERALD.
WATCH THE FIRST EPISODE AND
LISTEN TO THE WHY RACE MATTERS
PODCAST AT
pbswisconsin.orgwhyracematters.
NEW EPISODES PREMIERE EVERY
WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 P.M. THROUGH
MAY.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
THANKS FOR WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW."
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.